Male yorkies & leg lifting/marking behavior

[mistyinca]

OK,

I am thinking about getting another yorkie--just thinking right now . I was thinking about getting another female, but I wonder about getting a male. I am afraid of the whole leg lifting and marking thing. I mean, it is one thing to get a few pee stains on the carpet--those are easily cleaned (and Chloe was housebroken at 5 months!) But it's a whole nother thing to have pee and whatever ( ) on my furniture legs.

I admit, I don't know what belly bands do and the whole way to deal with having a male (un-neutered) yorkie as a pet.

And what if they have been studded? I understand they are more prone to marking then.

So can someone explain to a total noob about owning a male yorkie, how to minimize the leg lifting marking situation--the whole kit and caboodle.

Thanks

[chachi]

If you have them neutered at a young age (by 6 Months) they probably wont mark in the house. I had my male neutered at 7 months and he only marks outside

[misilmisil]

Hey Misty,

I am getting my baby boy in April but let me share things that I learned from people here on YT...Belly bands are like diapers (excluding the butt part)...They actually get wrapped around the boy's belly so that they wont lift their legs, mark or pee all over the house...You may place a female hygene pad inside them to prevent your baby's belly being soaked in urine...I actually just ordered two pairs of them...

I really dont know why but I really wanted to have a boy...This might be because all other pets I have ever owned were boys and I kinda know how to deal with them...

I think it might be a good variety for you to have one boy and a girl (and of course if you get it)...

Hope this helps!

-Isil

[mistyinca]

OK, so then, do belly bands inhibit successful house-breaking. We do potty outside, pee pads are not an option, except during young puppy days in the x-pen.

I would think if they have basically a diaper, that it would make it more difficult to potty train. Is this something that is needed only after 6 months or so when they aren't neutered?

[chachi]

Most young puppies dont mark so you would need the bellyband later

[RLC12345678]

My male, Hobbs, was neutered at 5 months. He is now 18 months old and still squats to pee.

[froggies]

I don't know really what advice I can give other than my own experience with having a male. At the time we were babysitting my boyfriend's mom's yorkie, so it could have just been a territorial thing. We had also just moved to a new apartment, so it could have also been because everything was unfamiliar to him. Anyway, everytime I saw him sniffing around, or if he even looked like he was about to start marking, I'd distract him by calling his name or with noise by shaking a soda can and then I'd take him outside. I've never used belly bands or diapers. Now he doesn't mark the house at all--he does it all outside.

I personally love having a boy (I've always had male pets), and it was not until recently that I got a girl. They are great together! If you do decide to get the boy, I think you'd be very happy!

[TLC]

I have a male and female. They are potty trained inside with pee pads inside a litter box. Our house is either hardwood or tile. We do have trow rugs in each room. Both Tj and Roxy have pee'd at least once on each rug, so their scent is there, no need to mark it again.

TJ does lift his leg to pee - but he only pees where he is supposed to.

When we are outside for walks BOTH TJ and Roxy are MAD MARKERS They know that they are allowed to do that outside.

[JeanieK]

Marking is an instinct that you can't stop. You can correct them if you catch them, but it's not always easy to catch them.

Chachi is not neutered and he has been bred. He seemed to mark much worse when Ollie was in heat, or if there is another dog around. I only use a belly band when he is allowed in the living room at night. The rest of the day he is confined to the kitchen and occasionally I'll find a spot, but not too often.

My problem with the belly band iws, we have a doggie door, so when he has the belly band on, if he goes outside to pee then he is peeing in the belly band. But he only has it on for two to three hours at night, and I just deal with it.

[blondflava]

I can't really tell a lot about un-neutered males (are you planning to breed him with your girl?) as I had Pepper neutered as soon as he was 6 months old. He never lifted his leg to pee, doesn't have the need to mark. In fact, he squats like a girl !! He's 9.5 months now and I'm curious to see if his habits will still change (I hope not... ).
My mom has an un-altered male and it was just a matter of time when he learned to lift his leg.

[ellie81]

My yorkie was neutered at 6 months and he never ever marked (and I hope he stays that way). I never bought any belly bands. He doesn't even mark outside.
He lifts his leg a little bit when he pees in the litter box because it has edges, but if he has to pee just in a pad with no box, he squats.
If you neuter your yorkie before his sexual maturity, which is at around 6 months of age, there is a big chance he'll never mark.

[shadream]

here... I have 3 males and one squats to pee and none of them have ever marked, all fixed before 6 mos. If fixed before sexual maturity. not a problem.

[Potter]

I only have a male Yorkie now and he is intact. He is trained to not mark at home. He marks outside though and that is fine. Male dogs can be trained to not mark at home. I used to have 2 male dogs, a spitz and a shih-tzu before I had a male yorkie. They were neutered but they mark everywhere but they came to me when they were already an adult so even with all my training, it didn't work.

[baby girl1]

I have always had boys three to be exact, Sparky, Styles and Owen. They are all bad with the leg lifting thing. Alot of it is spite. There are tons of books I have read, but nothing has worked for me. So, mommy just doesn't get expensive furniture and I have stock in Bissell. I have alway wanted a girl and recently my dream finally came true. I hate to say this but she is so much smarter than my boys. I love my boys more than anything in the whole world but they are bad and have minds of there own. My baby girl hasn't had any accidents in the house and she's 4 months old.

[Jude]

My little Sisco is five months now. I got him at three months. He was not house broke at all. I'm at my wits end. He weighs 1.5 lbs. What is a belly band, and how can I train him?
Jude